Spinning and twisting ring



Nov. 18, 1952 G. F. ALBRECHT 2,618,116

SPINNING AND TWISTING RING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 [rovermfior Geo rye A lbrec/Zl 13, 1952 G. F. ALBRECHT SPINNING AND TWISTING RING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1949 Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to ring spinning and twisting frames such as are employed in the manufacture of textile yarns and threads and relates more particularly to an improved ring for use in such frames, the ring of the present invention constituting an improvement over those described and claimed in my prior Patents No. 2,084,756, dated June 22, 1937, and No. 2,403,255, dated July 2, 1946.

In my prior patents I disclose a spinning or twisting ring characterized by the fact that at least that portion of the ring which constitutes the guide for the traveler is of a porous material capable of absorbing and/or transmitting oil for lubricating the traveler. In certain of my prior embodiments, the ring proper has as an integral hollow external peripheral projection constituting an annular oil chamber or reservoir from which oil gradually seeps through the thickness of the ring. In another embodiment the oil chamber or reservoir is provided in a part separate from the porous ring and the latter has an integral flange which forms a cover for the oil reservoir, the flange having opening-s for the rereption of screws by means of which it is held in place. In the latter embodiment the oil from the reservoir is fed to the under surface of the flange either by direct contact or by means of a wick and is absorbed by the flange and thus delivered to the ring proper. The use of oil-feeding wicks in association with spinning or twisting rings is a common practice, whether or not the ring be of porous material. Thus, in certain kinds of impervious steel ring the wick employed is threaded back and forth through radial openings in the ring; this is a time-consuming operation and if the useful life of the wick is short, the replacement of the wicks represents a substantial item of cost in mill operation. Heretofore such wicks have usually been made of some organic material, for example worsted or cotton yarns, and when such materials are employed, the initial capillarity of the wick gradually diminishes during use, for instance, by reason of disintegration of the fibre by the chemical action of the oil or by oxidization or through the action of acids or other detergents employed in the customary periodic washing of the ring.

In that embodiment of my invention above referred to wherein the ring proper has an integral flange of porous material having holes for the passage of screws or bolts, it has been found in practice that the presence of the bolt holes in the flange sometimes results in a distortion of the flange during the hardening operation so that in the" completed ring the flange does not provide the desired level bearing for the ring. In this embodiment also it is necessary, in order to uncover the reservoir for refilling, to remove several screws and afterward to replace them. In an alternative embodiment disclosed in my prior patents, the oil is delivered :by a wick from an external reservoir to a single point in the periphery of the porous ring. While all of my prior arrangements, as disclosed in the aforesaid patents, represent distinct advantages over prior methods of lubrication, the supplying of oil to the porous ring in accordance with my previous embodiments leaves something to be desired, particularly in respect to ease of filling the reservoir and to the uniformity of delivery of oil from the reservoir to the ring proper.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an adequate, readily accessible reservoir of a capacity such as to hold oil for a substantial period of use; to provide means whereby oil from the reservoir is supplied at the required rate to the porous ring and, in particular, to supply the oil with substantial uniformity about the entire circumference of the ring; and to provide oilfeeding means which is not attacked by the constituents of the oil, nor subject to oxidization, nor to the action of ring-washing solutions, and which maintains its initial capillarity over a long period of use. A further object is to provide a ring assembly wherein the ring-supporting annulus has a circumferential channel of substantially just suflicient capacity to hold an annular wick, the channel being so shaped and dimensioned transversely that when the parts are assembled, the wick is kept under some transverse compression by the annular flange of the porous ring, thus insuring good oil transmission between the wick and flange throughout the entire circumference of the ring and, at the same time,

protecting the wick from pre-contact with the air except where it extends into the reservoir. A further object is to provide a ring assembly in which the ring-supporting annulus may be of any desired material, for example cast iron, or aluminum, or an organic plastic, having appropriate means for attaching it to the ring rail and having at a conveniently accessible point a reservoir chamber of substantial capacity provided with closure means which, when open, leaves a large area exposed to facilitate refilling. I

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved ring assembly; 1 r I Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ring assembly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ring-supporting annulus, omitting the ring and with the reservoir cover removed;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary diametric section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, but to larger scale;

Fig. 5 .isa plan view of the ring to substantially the same scale as Fig. 1, the ring being removed from the supporting annulus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, diametric section to larger scale on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, diagrammatically illustrating the internal construction of the ring;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary radial section substantially on the line 7-1 of Fig. 1, to much larger scale, showing the ring and its supporting annulus and the wick in assembled relation; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a piece of oil-feeding wick inaccordance with the presentinvention.

The ring assembly of the present invention comprises the traveler-guiding annulus or ring proper I and the ring-supporting annulus or ring holder 2, which, as hereinafter noted, also constitutes a wick-housing. The traveler-guiding annulus I is here illustrated as substantially identical in shape and structure with the traveler-guiding annulus or ring illustrated in Fig. 5 of my prior Patent No. 2,403,255, dated June 2, 1946, except that whereas the radial flange of the patented ring has holes for the-reception of screws or bolts by means of which the annuli are held in assembled relation, the flange 3 (Figs. 5 and 6) of the annulus I of the present invention is imperforate. This annulus I, like the traveler-guiding ring of the patent, comprises a cylindrical portion having inner and outer concentric surfaces 4 and 5, respectively, and a guiding portion 6 shaped to receive and to form a guide for a conventional C-shaped traveler. Theradial flange 3 is here illustrated as of substantially uniform, vertical thickness and has its under surface 'I smoothly finished.

This annulus I is of the porous, oil-absorbent character more fully described in my above-mentioned patents, having the physical characteristics of the traveler-guiding ring therein disclosed and it may be of the same or similar composition and prepared in the manner suggested in said patents. However, it is contemplated that rings of other materials or compositions, but having similar porosity and wear resistance, may be employed if desired.

The supporting annulus 2 may be of any appropriate non-absorbent material, for instance a'synthetic plastic or a metal, for example aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Aluminum is desirable on account of its light weight. Usually the supporting annulus (Figs. 3 and 4) will be a unitary casting or forging. It has a horizontal upper surface 8 which forms the support for the flange 30f the ring I, the surfaces I and 8 being directly opposed when the parts are assembled. An annular upstanding wall 9 defines the outer edge of the surface 8, the internal diameter of the wall S-substantially equalling the external diameter of the flange 3, and the vertical depth of the wall 9 substantially equalling the thickness oftheflange 3 so that when the annuli are assembled (Fig. 7), the upper surface'of the flange 3is substantially flush with the'upper edge ID of the wall 9.

Approximately midway (Fig. 4') between-the inner and outer edges of the surface 8 thereisan annular channel II. As here illustrated, this channel is substantially square in transverse section although it may be of other shape, if desired. As shown, the radial Width of this channel is small as compared with the width of the surface 8. For instance, it may be of approximately one-third the radial width of the surface 8. The diameter of the inneredge of thesurface 8 is substantially greater than the diameter of the surface 5 of the ring I so that when the annuli are assembled (Fig. 7) the ring i is centered by engagement of the outer edge of the flange 3 with the inner surface of the wall 9.

At one side (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the supporting annulus 2 is provided with an integral boss I2. This boss, as illustrated, is elongate in the direction of a tangent to the wall 9 and is of a length in this direction approximating the diameter of the annulus. In plan view (Fig. 3) this boss I2 is substantially rectangular, having the outer :corners I3 and i4, and comprises thin, vertical walls I5, It and H which, together with a portionof the wall 9 of the annulus and a thin bottom wall, define a reservoir chamber I8 of substantial capacity. The wall 9 is provided with a'gapIB (Fig. 3) providing communication between .the reservoir chamber I8 and the channel-8.

As illustrated, the annulus 2 is of maximum vertical thickness at diametrically opposite portions 20 and 2| (Fig. 2), being of lesser depth between these parts to reduce weight, and the under sur faces of the parts 28 and 2I are smooth anddesigned to rest upon the ring rail. Slotted ears 22 and 23 project from the parts 20 and ZI, respectively, and are designed to receive bolts-by means of which the assembly issecured to the ring rail.

The supporting annulus 2 has a plurality of screw-threaded holes 24 (four holes-being shown) for the reception of headed screws 25. These-holes are so located, preferably symmetrically about the annulus, that the shanks of the screws do not contact the outer edge of the flange 3, but the heads of these screws overlie the margin of the flange 3 when the parts are assembled, thus tally swinging cover or closure member 28 which may be of sheet metal or other suitable material and which normally covers the reservoir chamber I8 so as to keep out dust and dirt. For convenience, this cover member 28 may be provided Wlth an upstanding lug 29 for use in opening and closing the cover.

Within the channel a (Fig. "2) there is arranged an oil-conducting wicket). This wick is a length of cord-like material, preferably consisting of a plurality of yarns 3I (Fig. 8) concatenated'in any suitable way, for example, by braiding, to provide a cord of generally circular, transverse section and of such diameter that when seated in the channel 8 and covered by; the flange 3, it is subjected to some degree of transverse compression. The main portion of the'length of this wick forms a substantially circular 'bight within the channel and concentric with the annuli. One end portion, and preferably both end portions, of this cord-'- like wick extends out through the gap I 9 into the reservoir chamber I8 where they are immersed-in oil. For optimum results, it is preferred to make this wick of spun glass fibers. Fiberglasyarns have 'g'reat tensile strength and are very-flexible and canbe obtained in very small sizes. When such yarns are formed into a braid, it is found that this braid has very high capillarity and is thus very effective as an oil conductor. Although the exact reason is not known, it seems probable that this very high capillarity is due to the fact that the surfaces of the individual fibers are smooth and highly polished and that these fibers are not of themselves absorbent of oil and thus do not swell and become soaked with oil. Thus, the oil flows very freely and without obstruction or retardation along the length of the braid and the effects of capillary action are not in any way impeded. Such a braid, formed from spun glass fibers, is not injuriously affected by a chemical action of the oil, nor by atmospheric oxygen; it is not harmed by acids or other substances which may be employed for washing the rings and it is easy to install and cheap to manufacture. This wick is laid in the channel 8 and its ends are passed outv through the gap and laid in the reservoir chamber l8 and the ring I is then placed within the ring 2 so that the under surface 1 of the flange 3 of ring I rests upon the upper peripheral portion of the wick. When the screws 25 are inserted and tightened, the flange 3 is drawn toward the surface 8 and thus the wick is placed under some transverse compression insuring a close contact between the wick and the under surface of the porous flange 3. Since the wick extends substantially around the entire circumference of the ring I, the oil is fed to the ring I at all points and thus substantial uniformity of lubrication about the entire periphery of the traveler-guiding ring is assured.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been disclosed by way of example, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination a traveler-guiding annulus of oilabsorbent material and a supporting annulus of oil-impervious material, the supporting annulus having a horizontal upper surface within which is an annular channel of a radial width approximating one-third the radial width of said upper surface, the supporting annulus also having an external oil reservoir and a passage leading from said reservoir into said channel, a cord-like wick consisting solely of interbraided fiberglas yarns and which comprises an annular bight which completely fllls said channel and whose end portions extend out through the passage into the oil reservoir, the traveler supporting annulus having an imperforate radial flange provided with a horizontal surface which contacts the horizontal upper surface of the supporting annulus at opposite sides of and forms a cover for the channel and contacts the wick and holds the latter under compression, means for removably holding the annuli in assembled relation, and a removable cover for the top of the reservoir.

2. In a spinning ring of the kind wherein a porous, oil-absorbent traveler-guiding annulus is assembled and removably held in coaxial relation to a supporting annulus of non-absorbent material by screws whose shanks are located outwardly of the peripheral edge of the traveler guiding annulus, the supporting annulus having an integral, offset, external, hollow boss constituting an oil reservoir, the two annuli having opposed horizontal contacting surfaces, one of said horizontalsurfaces having therein a radially narrow annular channel coaxial with'theannuli and located substantially midway between the inner and outer edges of said last-named horizontal surface, a cord-like wick consisting solely of fiberglas yarn and which comprises a substantially circular bight disposed within and completely filling said channel and being held under compression by contact with the other of said horizontal surfaces, a portion of said wick extending into the reservoir, and a removable cover for the reservoir.

3. A spinning ring of the kind which comprises in combination two coaxial annuli and means for uniting them in assembled relation to the ring rail of a spinning frame, one annulus being a traveler guiding annulus of a porous metallic substance containing a multitude of oil-receiving capillary passages of visually inappreoiable size, said annulus being externally shaped to provide a guide for a traveler and hard enough to form an acceptable guide for the traveler, said annulus having an integral, imperforate, radial flange of a vertical thickness less than the vertical thickness of the traveler-guiding portion of the annulus, the other annulus being a supporting annulus comprising a part engageable with the peripheral edge of the flange to hold the annuli in coaxial relation, said supporting annulus having an upper surface on which the flange of the porous annulus rests, said upper surface of the supporting annulus having therein a coaxial channel of small radial width as compared with the width of the flange, a Wick within and filling the channel and with which the flange of the traveler guiding annulus normally contacts, means providing a reservoir external to the supporting annulus, the latter having a gap providing communication between the channel and reservoir, a portion of the wick extending through the gap into the channel, and means normally holding the annuli in assembled relation.

4. A spinning ring comprising two coaxial annuli, one annulus being a traveler-guiding annulus and the other being a supporting annulus, the traveler-guiding annulus consisting of a single piece of material hard enough to form.

an acceptable guide for a traveler and externally shaped to constitute such a guide, said travelerguiding annulus having a multitude of microscopic capillary cavities throughout its substance and having an external, imperforate, radial. flange of substantially uniform vertical thickness and having a flat undersurface, characterized in that the supporting annulus has a flat upper surface whose outer edge is defined by an upstanding annular wall operative to hold the annuli in coaxial relation, said flat upper surface having therein a relatively narrow, coaxial channel, the supporting annulus also having an external hollow projection constituting an oil reservoir and having a gap providing communication between the reservoir and channel and a wick of oil-absorbent material within the channel, the wick being of such transverse dimensions as to be held under compression by the flange when the annuli are assembled, a portion of they wick extending through the gap into the reservoir, and means for holding the annuli assembled.

5. A spinning ring comprising a traveler-guiding annulus and a supporting annulus, said annuli being coaxial, the supporting annulus having a flat, horizontal upper surface divided into inner and outer portions by a coaxial channel relatively narrow as compared with theradial widthcream-horizontal wickwithin said channel, the traveier guiding annulus consisting of a single unitary piece of metal hard enough to form an acceptable guide for a traveler and externally contoured toconstitute sucha guide and also comprising an imp'erforateradial flange having afiat under-surface which overlies and contacts the flat upper surface of the first annulus when the parts are assembled andwhich bears upon and holds the Wick under transverse compression, the travelerguiding annulus being porous and capable of absorbing oil, the supporting annulus having centering means, engaging the outer edge of-the flange for-holding the annuli in coaxial relation, and having a hollow, integral external projection constituting an oil reservoirand having a gap providing communication between the reservoir and said channel, the end portions, of the wick extending through said gap into the reservoir, and a plurality of headed screws havingthreaded engagement with holes in the supporting annulus, the heads of said screws normally overlying the margin of the flange, thereby to hold the annuli in assembled relation.

-6.- A spinning-ring comprising two coaxial .an nuli and. means for holding them in assembled relation, one of said annuli being shaped externally to constitute a guide for a traveler, the

other of said annuli having .a flat, finished, an- I nular upper surface divided into inner and outer concentric portions by an annular channel of small radial width as compared with the radial width of saidflnished upper surface, the outer edge of saidupper surfacebeing defined by an annular upstanding wall having a gap therethrough, means providing a reservoirfor oil into which said gap opens, and an oil feeding wick having its ends Within the reservoir and having its intermediateportion disposed in said channel to form an annular bight, the wick being of such transverse thickness as substantially to. fill the channel, the traveler guiding annulus having-an integral, imperforate flange of a diameter to fit snugly within the annular upstanding wall of the supporting annulus and having a flat undersurface which overlies and contacts the finished uppersurface of the other annulus and which contacts and holds the wick under transverse compression, the second annulus having attaching means normallyoverlying the margin of the traveler-contacting surface of the ring at .a sub stantially'uniform and very slow velocity.

7. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination two coaxial annuli, one annulus constituting a support for the other and beingof oil impervious material and having a horizontal upper surface whose outer edge is defined by. an upstanding wall, said horizontal upper surface havingtherein an annular grooveof a width substantially less. than .the. width of said horizontal upper surface, the second annulus constituting a traveler guide and consisting of aunitary mass of material which is hard enough to'form an acceptable guide for the traveler but 3 which is porous and contains a multitudeof capillary-passages. capable of retaining oil and SlirfaG; an'oileabsorb'ent 8- uni-form butveryiow velocitmsaidtrarler guld mg annulus com rising a cylindrical portion having traveler contacting surfaces and an imperforate radial flange, the latter forming a'cover for said channel, the radial flange having a horizontal under surfacedesigned to rest upon the horizontal upper surface-of the supporting annulus and being o1 a diameter such that its peripheral edge fits snugly within the aforesaid upstanding wallof the supporting annulus, the flange being of uniform vertical thickness "with its upper surface flush with the upper edgeo'f said upstanding wall when the parts ar'e:assem-- bled, and means for removablyholding the an nuli in assembled relation.

8. Aspinningring assembly according to claim- '7, further characterized in that the means-for:

holding the annuli in assembled relation com-- prises a'screw whose shank is located outwardly" of the peripheral edge-of the flange-and which has threaded engagement with the supporting:v annulus,'-the screw having a head'whichnormally' overlies the upper surface of the radial flange of the ring-guiding annulus.

9. A spinning ring assembly according to claim 7 and wherein the supporting annulus has an integral, outwardly projecting hollow boss constituting an oilreservoir'a'nd has a passage leading from the interior of the reservoir to the annular channel and .a wick offiberglas withinthe annular channel, the wick being of a normal" diameter such that when the parts are assembled the wick completely fills the channel and is held under compression between the flange and the bottom of the channel.

10. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination two coaxial annuli, one annulusconstituting a support for the other, the latter annulus comprising a portion shaped to form traveler guiding surfaces and having a r'adialr outwardly extending flange provided with a smooth, horizontal under surface, the supporting annulus having a horizontal annular surface bounded at its outer edge by a vertical wall, said horizontal annular surface being of less radial width than said flange, the outer edge of the flange, when the annuli are assembled; contacting said vertical wall, and means carried by the supporting annulus, and which normally overhangs the outer margin of said flange, oper-- ative to hold the annuli in assembled relation.

11. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination two coaxial annuli, one annulusconstituting a support for the other, the latter annulus comprising a portion shaped to form raveler guiding surfaces and having a radial, outwardly extending flange provided with a smooth, horizontal under surface, the supporting. annulus having a horizontal annular surface of less radial width than said flange and upon which the flange rests when the annuli are assembled, the supporting annulus having screw threaded vertical bores arranged outwardly beyond the outer edge of the flange of the traveler guiding annulus, and screws having threaded engagement with said bores, the heads of the screws overlying the langeof the traveler guiding annulus thereby removably to hold the annuli in assembled. relation.

12. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination two coaxial annuli, one annulus constituting a support for the other, the latter' annulus comprising a portion shaped to form traveler guiding surfaces a-n'd ha-ving a radial,- from Wlii(*.hthe:oilexudes at-asubstantially outwa'rdlyextending fiangeprovided with "a"- smooth, horizontal under surface, the supporting annulus having a horizontal annular surface upon which the flange rests when the annuli are assembled, the supporting annulus having an annular channel for the reception of lubricating medium, said channel being relatively narrow as compared with the radial width of the annular supporting surface and being substantially midway between the inner and outer edges of said supporting surface, the traveler guiding annulus being so constructed and arranged as to conduct oil from said channel to its traveler guiding surfaces, and means removably holding the annuli in assembled relation.

13. A spinning ring assembly comprising in combination two coaxial annuli, one annulus constituting a support for the other, the latter annulus comprising a portion shaped to form traveler guiding surfaces and having a radial, outwardly extending flange provided with a smooth, horizontal under surface, the supporting annulus having a horizontal annular surface upon which the flange rests when the annuli are assembled, the supporting annulus having an annular channel for the reception of lubricating medium, said channel being of a radial width of the order of one-third the radial width of said flange supporting surface, and an oil conducting wick filling the channel, the initial transverse dimensions of the wick being such that when assembled between the annuli it is under radial compression, and means for feeding oil to the Wick.

14. A spinning ring assembly of the kind which comprises a traveler guiding annulus having a traveler guiding surface and a supporting annulus coaxial with the traveler guiding annulus, the supporting annulus having a channel for lubricant and the traveler guiding annulus being so constructed and arranged as to convey lubricant from the channel to its traveler guiding surface, a reservoir for lubricant and a wick comprising an annular bight disposed within the channel and having its ends arranged within the reservoir, characterized in that the Wick is of high capillarity and not injuriously affected by exposure to the fluids customarily employed in cleaning spinning apparatus, and consisting of fine fibers which are individually smooth and non-absorbent of oil.

15. In combination with a spinning or twisting ring having a traveler guiding surface and which is of a porous oil-absorbent material capable of transmitting oil through its substance to its traveler guiding surface, a wick comprising an annular bight concentric with the ring and which throughout substantially its entire circumference is of uniform radius and in direct oil-transmitting contact with the ring, the wick consisting solely of bare interbraided yarns of smooth nonabsorbent glass fibers, the wick possessing a high degree of capillarity, and means for supplying oil to the wick.

16. In combination with a spinning or twisting ring comprising a traveler guiding annulus, a reservoir for oil, and a wick for conveying oil from the reservoir to the annulus, the wick consisting of a plurality of bare yarns of smooth nonabsorbent glass fibers concatenated to form a cord of substantially circular transverse section, the constituent glass fibers constituting the entire exposed peripheral surface of the cord.

GEORGE F. ALBRECHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 214,085 Beck Apr. 8, 1879 1,899,635 Powrie Feb. 28, 1933 2,184,899 Shand Dec. 26, 1939 2,205,916 Ziegler June 25, 1940 2,403,255 Albrecht July 2, 1946 2,461,470 Herr Feb, 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country v Date 432,441 Great Britain July 26, 1935 

